Can kids take mefloquine?
Sophia Carter
Updated on March 08, 2026
Can kids take mefloquine?
Mefloquine should not be used to treat malaria in a child younger than 6 months without a doctor’s advice. Mefloquine should not be used to prevent malaria in a child who weighs less than 44 pounds.
What age can kids take malaria tablets?
At what age can you start giving malaria preventative medication to children? Technically, as soon as they weigh over 5kg. However, I wouldn’t advise children under five years to visit a malaria area.
Can children take malaria medication?
Adults only: 200 mg per dose. Begin daily for 3 days prior to travel, weekly during travel, and for 1 week after leaving. Adults: 1 adult tablet daily. Children: 5-8 kg: ½ pediatric tablet daily.
Can mefloquine be given to infants less than 5kgs?
The authors concluded that mefloquine (25 mg/kg) was very well tolerated in small children weighing > 5 kg except for vomiting.
How do I give my baby mefloquine?
Children 6 months of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The usual dose is 20 to 25 mg per kg of body weight as a single dose or two doses (divide the single dose by two) taken 6 to 8 hours apart. Taking two doses may decrease the occurrence of unwanted side effects.
Is mefloquine good for malaria?
Mefloquine can be prescribed for either treatment or prevention of malaria. This fact sheet provides information about its use for the prevention of malaria infection associated with travel. Who can take mefloquine? Mefloquine can be prescribed to adults and children of all ages.
Is mefloquine the same as chloroquine?
Mefloquine is used as a treatment for chloroquine-sensitive or resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and is deemed a reasonable alternative for uncomplicated chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax malaria. It is one of several drugs recommended by the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is mefloquine same as hydroxychloroquine?
WUSA9 has done extensive reporting on one of those drugs – mefloquine – which is part of the same family of quinoline drugs as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.
Is mefloquine prescription only?
Mefloquine is only available on prescription, so it is important that a doctor checks whether the medication is suitable for you.
What is mefloquine used to treat?
It is also used to prevent malaria infection in areas or regions where it is known that other medicines (eg, chloroquine) may not work. Mefloquine belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It works by preventing or treating malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.
Is mefloquine still prescribed?
Mefloquine is used based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The brand Lariam® is no longer sold in the United States, although other brands of mefloquine are available.
What is the safest anti malaria medication?
SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE
| Clinical recommendation | Evidence rating |
|---|---|
| Insect repellent and insecticide-treated bed netting reduce malaria infections by 80 percent. | B |
| Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine are the drugs of choice for malaria prevention in most malaria-endemic regions. | C |